2 Charged With Running Wis.’s Spotted Cow Beer To Minnesota Bar

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Two Minnesota men face charges for allegedly running a popular Wisconsin beer to a Minnesota bar illegally.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office says 37-year-old Brandon Hlavka of St. Michael and 28-year-old David Lantos of Brooklyn Park are each charged with one felony of transporting alcohol into Minnesota for resale.

According to the criminal complaint, authorities were tipped off in April of 2015 that Maple Tavern in Maple Grove was illegally importing and selling Spotted Cow beer.

On April 13, two alcohol and gambling enforcement agents visited the tavern, noticed the Spotted Cow tap, ordered it and tested it. Later, they executed a search warrant and recovered three Spotted Cow kegs and receipts for 10 kegs from two Hudson, Wisconsin liquor stores, the complaint said.

When talking to investigators, the two men said they knew they couldn’t get Spotted Cow from any Minnesota distributors, so they decided to drive to Wisconsin to buy kegs.

“While this is far from the most serious crime we’ve had to prosecute,businesses must follow the laws the legislature passes to make sure the competition is fair and the products are safe for consumers,” Hennepin County Freeman said.